Fugitive businessperson Jho Low has criticised the Kuala Lumpur High Court's ruling to permit the forfeiture of more than RM48 million from bank accounts belonging to his father, Larry Low.

A spokesperson for Low, who is speculated to be in China, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's administration “continues to favour the law of the jungle in pursuit of an inch of political gain.”

“The improper seizure of assets purportedly linked to Mr Low is the inevitable result of illegitimate proceedings brought by the Mahathir regime, in which the outcome was preordained and politically motivated, blurring the lines between executive and judicial power.

“This seizure, much like the Mahathir regime's recent attempts to seize the Low family's home of 20 years, further demonstrates the regime's shameful strategy of targeted harassment and willingness to abandon proper procedures.

“Against a backdrop of falling approval ratings, the Mahathir regime has not met its promises with respect to basic human rights or the rule of law.

“The evidence is clear: it is simply not possible to receive a fair trial in Malaysia, where double standards prevail and power and politics override basic rights and freedoms,” added the spokesperson in a statement this afternoon.

This morning, judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ruled in favour of the application from deputy public prosecutor Aaron Chelliah after no third party appeared to stake a claim on the assets.

Larry was absent from the open court proceedings this morning. An arrest warrant has been issued against him.

It was reported on April 19 that the court set a three-month notice period for any third party to contest the forfeiture bid.

The Edge Markets previously reported that the RM48 million in seven of Larry's accounts had originated from 1MDB.